History of the American Negro: West Virginia Edition

Matthew T. Whittico

266 history american negro 1912. As a matter of fact, the way to an education was by no means easy. He was so unfortunate as to lose his mother at an early age and after leaving the public school had to make his own way. His first work after leaving home was in the mines. Later he did hotel and rail road work and during the last two years at Medical College was in hospital work. He took an active part in college athletics, especially base ball and foot ball. After his graduation in 1912, he located at Williamson and began the general practice. When this country entered the world war he joined the M. R. C. and went to Des Moines for training. He was commissioned First Lieut. and was stationed at Camp Meade for some months. He was in the active service overseas in France. Returning, he again took up the practice at Williamson where he has since resided. Dr. Whittico is a member of the State and National Medical Societies and of the local organization, known as the Flat Top Medical Society. In politics he is a Republican and takes an active interest in the local organization. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, being also superintendent of the Sunday School. Among the secret and benevolent orders, he belongs to the Masons, Pythians, Odd Fellows and St. Lukes. He is examiner for the Pythians. On December 24, 1914, Dr. Whittico married Miss Nannie L. Cobbs, of Keystone. Mrs. Whittico was educated at the West Virginia Collegiate Institute and was, before her marriage, an accomplished teacher. They have one child, James Malachi Whittico, Jr. Dr.Whittico believes that the permanent progress of the race must rest on education and the development of industrial interests. He has property in both Williamson, W. Va. and in Virginia. Matthew T. Whittico The life and work of Matthew Thomas Whittico, Editor and publisher of the McDowell Times of Keystone, W. Va., is another matthew thomas whittico 268 history american negro illustration of what America owes the country boy. Like so many of the successful business and professional men of both races in West Virginia ,he is a native of the Old Dominion,having been born at Martinsville in Henry County, Va., on September 25, 1866. His father, Hezekiah J. Whittico, was a farmer and the son of Thomas and Catherine Whittico. Under a statute of that day, the condition of the colored child followed that of the mother. Somewhere in Mr. Whittico’s line of ancestry was a free mother, so that his parents and grandparents were“issue free.”The mother of our subject was, before her marriage, Miss Letitia A. Pace, daughter of Matthew and Sarah Pace. As a boy young Whittico went to the local public schools, but when he aspired to a higher education the way was not easy. He says, “My parents were poor, and I had to work, first on the railroad and later in a saloon and at hotels.”Even at that early age, he had the wisdom to see the necessity for adequate preparation if he meant to render any large service in the world. Accordingly he made his way to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he won his A.B. degree in 1896. He began teaching in the public schools in Henry County, Va., and continued to farm. He taught for seven years. In 1904 he came to Keystone and established the McDowell Times, a weekly newspaper, the success of which has been remarkable and unique. The writer knows of no other weekly colored newspaper which is as successful as the Times. In the seventeen years it has been running only three issues have been missed and two of these were given to the employees. The circulation of eleven thousand is unprecedented for a paper of its type. Perhaps most unique of all is the fact that a large part of the circulation and advertising support of the Times comes from white constituency. These facts speak for themselves and tell the type of men and character of service which have made the Times what it is. In politics, Mr. Whittico is a Republican. From the beginning of his residence in McDowell county he has been active in the work of the party. His intelligence soon made him a leader. He was for years west virginia edition 269 a member of the...